The National Green Tribunal on Thursday pulled up the Delhi Government, Municipal Corporations and neighbouring states regarding deteriorating air quality; while asking them to witness the pitiable condition of people in hospitals and the way their lives are being played with.
NGT has lashed out at the Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Government while asking it to explain steps taken to curtail pollution, challans issued to violators and the number of construction sites where work has been stopped.
Further, the tribunal sought an explanation from the Arvind Kejriwal led government as to why artificial rain hasn't being triggered using helicopters.
The tribunal further said that the CPCB's report has shown the extent of danger lurking in the air in Delhi NCR.
Referring to the Central Pollution Control Board's report, NGT said that the air quality should have been PM 10 levels which is supposed to be 100, had touched 986.
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The air quality in Delhi-NCR has also significantly gone down and the the PM 2.5 levels which were supposed to be 60, had reached 420.
NGT has observed that "It is shameful for all the parties in this matter on what they're passing on to the next generation". The tribunal further slammed neighbouring states of Delhi & raised question on their seriousness on the grievous situation.
"All the constitutional authorities and statutory bodies measurably failed to perform their duties. So far pollution is the concern, it is a joint responsibility of all the stakeholders" said NGT.
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Moreover, the NGT observed that: Articles 21 & 48 of the Constitution mandate that it is the responsibility of governments to make sure that citizens get a clean and conducive environment. Right to life is being snatched from people since they're not getting a clean environment.
The tribunal has also ordered all industrial activities to be immediately stopped in Delhi, till the next hearing. NGT has further directed, all the public authorities to depute an officer for monitoring the polluting activities.
The tribunal has strongly rebuked all the concerned states' while asking their pollution control boards to monitor all parameters.
The Delhi High Court has directed that an emergency meeting should be called by Union Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change secretary with Chief Secretaries of NCR states & pollution control agencies within three days. Further, the court also directed the govt. to consider the possibility of cloud seeding as a measure to control pollution.
Delhi High Court also observed that the 'odd-even vehicle movement scheme' in 2016 had unclogged the city while asking the Kejriwal govt to consider implementing as a short-term measure. The court has also raised questions on the decision of increasing parking fees by four times to control pollution.
NGT also said that diesel vehicles which are 10 years old and petrol vehicles which are 15 years old, should be prohibited to enter Delhi. The Tribunal also said that trucks carrying construction materials should be banned in Delhi-NCR.
The NGT has directed that the next hearing will be held on 14th November. Further, the tribunal has asked all concerned authorities and pollution control boards to file a status report by then.
National Human Rights Commission too is alarmed over the life-threatening pollution in Delhi-NCR. The NHRC has also issued notices to the Centre and Governments of Punjab and Haryana on their action plan to tackle it.
NGT has also directed Delhi government to sprinkle water wherever PM 10 is found to be in excess of 600 micrograms per cubic meter.
MoS Environment, Mahesh Sharma said, "This matter shouldn't be politicized, it is the time for everyone to come together and fight this problem."
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